London activities for Easter holidays

[needanewplannow]

I'll be spending Easter in London with my 13 year old and my 9 year old.

I want to get out and about and do some cool stuff with them. But slightly nervous about how packed everything will be at Easter!

Both kids are generally.up for giving things a go so I'm looking for a variety of activities.

What would you recommend? Thanks :)

What are you looking to do? Sights? Museums? History? Attractions? Theatre? Places to eat? What sorts of things do they like?

All of the above except places to eat - and I'd love to take them to the Theatre but only if it's affordable.

They both like museums and educational stuff if it's presented in an engaging way.

DD's done the Tudors, Vikings and the Romans this year. We have Celtic heritage (all the Celtic countries, basically!).

DS is basically a geek! He's into science, tech, history, anime, rock and heavy metal.

DD will need somewhere to run off some energy at some point.

I'd like them to see some sights.

I'd love to know about any exhibitions on at the moment that are good for kids / teens.

Any suggestions for how to do things on the cheap much appreciated as we'll be there for a week and I know how money just drops off you when you're out and about in London!

So, I was thinking about talking a river boat down the Thames and doing the cable cars at the 02, rather than bother with the expense and queues at the Eye, for one of the days.

We'll probably be going to the British Transport Museum another day, so suggestions for stuff to do round Covent Garden and that next of the woods would be appreciated.

DP will be there too, so we don't need to find things that are suitable for both of them all the time, we can do different things.

Has anyone been on the slide at the Olympic Park? Would you recommend it?

Thanks :)

*neck not next!

DS is 13, DD is 9 (hence needing to run off some energy!)

We saw Matilda on stage and DD loved it!

DS has quite a mature head on his shoulders and one of us could take him to something a bit more grown up than is suitable for DD.

They both love Harry Potter.

Every single time we go to London, we head straight for South Kensington and the Science Museum. On the top floor they have a Fly360 (a flight simulator pod) which my 13yo absolutely loves. Quite cheap too. We always spend a bit of time in Covent Garden watching the street artists and I love the Natural History Museum. We are looking forward to a proper look at Big Ben next time as the scaffolding is now off.

We've just been with our almost 13 year old, we did the uber boat and did the cable car which was good, you do have to queue but it moves quite fast, don't get off at the other end just stay in as there's not much to do. They do have a small flight simulator there which you have to book and pay extra for, can't comment on it as we didn't do it but looked interesting.
The other thing my DS loved was floor 5 in Harrods! It's the technology department and they have loads of tech to look at and try out, it also tends to get quieter the higher up you go in Harrods! You could probs leave the older one there and sneak off to another department
To be honest that was enough for us for a day with a mooch along the South Bank and lunch etc.

We always loved the Transport Museum in Covent Garden when my boys were a bit younger, there's a fair bit to look at and do.

We love the Science Museum and the Natural History museum too, but I'm a little worried they'll be too packed at Easter. Am I overthinking?!

Any tips on the best time of day to go? We'll be staying over the other side of London so first thing might be a push.

@topdot

We've just been with our almost 13 year old, we did the uber boat and did the cable car which was good, you do have to queue but it moves quite fast, don't get off at the other end just stay in as there's not much to do. They do have a small flight simulator there which you have to book and pay extra for, can't comment on it as we didn't do it but looked interesting. The other thing my DS loved was floor 5 in Harrods! It's the technology department and they have loads of tech to look at and try out, it also tends to get quieter the higher up you go in Harrods! You could probs leave the older one there and sneak off to another department To be honest that was enough for us for a day with a mooch along the South Bank and lunch etc.

Ooh, never would have thought of floor 5 of Harrods! That sounds right up DS's street.

We'll be there for a whole week so I'm looking for loads of ideas!

So much to do that age in London!

• natural history museum
• science museum
• river cruise
• kidzania
• theatre
• London dungeons
• Tower of London
• Buckingham palace and changing of the guard
• Harry Potter exhibition at Covent Garden
• monopoly life size
• Madame Tussaud's
• just hop on a London bus and see the sights
• south bank and street entertainers

There are obviously so many others things! But if you are a tourist and not from London then these are some of the more obvious things. You also have the Harry Potter studios in Watford which is accessible via tube/train/bus. However, it's likely to be booked up for Easter time.

@topdot

We always loved the Transport Museum in Covent Garden when my boys were a bit younger, there's a fair bit to look at and do.

Definitely on the list! I grew up in London (not there anymore) and went to school everyday on a routemaster so the nostalgia is strong!

Also DNA VR if your oldest is into tech!

@topdot

We've just been with our almost 13 year old, we did the uber boat and did the cable car which was good, you do have to queue but it moves quite fast, don't get off at the other end just stay in as there's not much to do. They do have a small flight simulator there which you have to book and pay extra for, can't comment on it as we didn't do it but looked interesting. The other thing my DS loved was floor 5 in Harrods! It's the technology department and they have loads of tech to look at and try out, it also tends to get quieter the higher up you go in Harrods! You could probs leave the older one there and sneak off to another department To be honest that was enough for us for a day with a mooch along the South Bank and lunch etc.

Wait - there's an Uber boat now?!

Is that what it sounds like, do you pay for it via Uber?

Science Museum's games room will go down a storm at that age.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/power

If DD enjoyed the Romans then a trip to the Mithraeum combined with the gladiatorial arena in the basement of the Guildhall and perhaps a walk up the Monument and a trip to Leadenhall Market (aka Diagon Alley) would make a good day out - lots of places to have lunch in the City.
londonmithraeum.recreatex.be/Exhibitions/Register?id=EEC081E8-0AA2-E711-80CD-5820B1E20440

Shopping in the Soho/Leicester Square area I'd recommend
House of Mina Lima in Soho for Harry Potter fans
minalima.com/
The big Lego shop at Leicester Square (go midweek because the queues are terrible at the weekend)
House of Spells, Charing Cross Road - a really nicely decorated Harry Potter/Game of Thrones gift shop.
A trip to Primark on Tottenham Court Road to spend pocket money in the huge Harry Potter section.
Forbidden Planet Shaftesbury Avenue
Lunch in Chinatown or just a cake from a Chinese bakery would fit in nicely with all of these

Some free or very cheap suggestions would be much appreciated too - just adding up how much this is all going to cost, it's not cheap is it?! 😬

Museum of London and the British museum are both fantastic and free, you just need to book tickets in advance. The museum of London has lots of Roman /great fire of London stuff.

Hi there, I blog about culture for families at museummum.com and on Instagram. I will have an Easter what's on in London with kids post up soon. I also have been sharing Easter events as I find them at www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3OTUyOTcwMDE1NTc4NTgx?utm_medium=copy_link

You've mentioned cheap and not busy, so I'd suggest the following:

• Museum of London - free, and it'll have events and trails on. Make part of a City day out - climb the monument is cheap and memorable, the Sky Garden (pre-book, free), Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley), London Mitheraeum, Sculpture in the City art trail, 120 Fenchurch Street (rooftop garden). The City is generally quieter than the West End or South Kensington.
• Tate Modern does free art drop in making studios in the holidays. They vary in quality but can be fun. You could walk here from Museum of London, and/or walk further along the South Bank to Borough Market. We love the Ginger Pig pasties there.
• Tate Britain will have opened its latest Duveen Galleries installation which is free. It's near Parliament so you can walk up and see 'Big Ben' fully restored, and walk along the South Bank after if you like.
• Somerset House installation - free, just 5 mins from Covent Garden, so can combine with London Transport Museum. Also in Covent Garden, street performers are free, but ask for donations.
• Natural History Museum and Science Museum are both free but will be exceptionally busy. My advice is to go late afternoon as most people are leaving then.
• Uber Boats is the Thames Clipper boat service. Cheaper than tourist boats as it's a commuter service. North Greenwich is where the Cable Cars are, there's also Now Gallery there which is free and small and does fun art shows, and The Line sculpture trail. You can pay for the boat by the app or any contactless Bank card
• Grant Museum, FREE and the family trail is really challenging! Close to Wellcome Collection, also free.
• Leake Street graffiti tunnels on the Southbank v cool. Close to House of Vans skate school, free skate lessons, book ahead (release times are on their Eventbrite page)
• other free/small museums which are likely to run family events include Museum of the Home, Sir John Soane Museum, Two Temple Place, National Army Museum

If you're coming by train look up 2 for 1s with a train ticket to help reduce your costs.

Theatre: Disney Day Seats for £25 Lion King and Frozen tickets. Today Tix for cheap tickets. Usually a limit of 2 tickets, but you said you're happy to split up.

Hope this helps and feel free to DM me on Instagram for more specific advice.

The British Museum has a great special exhibition about Stonehenge on at the moment. Adults need to buy tickets but under 16s are free with a paying adult.

Also in the British Museum the permanent galleries covering Romans, Greeks, ancient Britain etc are stunning. The Parthenon Marbles are also there and, though I personally think they should be returned to Athens, they are there and available to view for now, so go see.
The permanent galleries are free but they are limiting numbers so advisable to book free time slot entry tickets online. You can turn up on spec and get in as long as it is not too busy but wouldn't advise that on Easter holiday weekend.

I love the British Museum

Museum of london is free and really, really good.

For the anime a trip to the forbidden planet shop on Shaftesbury Avenue.

The sky garden is free (good views over london) you need to book this two weeks or so in advance so have a look now at what dates they are booking up to.

Harry Potter - kings cross station there is a trolley half in the wall photo opportunity and a shop next door (photo is free to take)

There is a Harry Potter statue in Leicester Square (there's also Mary Poppins, Paddington, Batman probably 10 statues in total) it's called Scenes in the Square. Download the map as a couple are up high. This is right by the Lego & M&M store. House of minalima shop is near here too. There's also a very small road in Covent Garden called Godwin's Court that is rumoured to be inspiration for knockturn alley. It's a weird spooky little place.

Leadenhall market is diagona alley and nice for a wander.

For theatre tickets use today tix app. Tickets will be £25 each but you'll need to split into two 2s. They go on sale at 10am. Download the app and unlock the shows you may want to see now and get an idea of how it works.

The slide at the Olympic park is great but it's an expensive activity for the time it takes.

I would get a map and try and group together things into areas.

Wow, what a lot of brilliant suggestions, thank you everyone!

museummumblog I'll definitely check out your blog, thanks!

Definitely Science Museum. It's free and the hands-on section for kids is brilliant. I could spend all day in there. The rest of the museum is cool too, with the first (GIANT) computer which had less memory than a musical birthday card memory chip. And there's a space landing pod.

Natural History Museum is also fun, and V&A is worth a look if they like costumes or design and art. Also both free

British Museum is free - you can just whizz around the highlights - mummies and mummified bodies, treasure hauls and rosetta stone.

Boat ride from London Eye to Greenwich is very good fun - you see Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, Tower Bridge etc. Greenwich is a brilliant day trip - visit the market for food and shopping, have a quick look around the maritime museum (can be fun steering VR ship into VR harbour, trying to capture enemy subs, load up a mini cargo ship wihtout it capsizing, try morse code etc.) Then up the hill to Greenwich meridian line and the Observatory, or pedalo on the little lake, go to the play park, then walk under the river via Brunel's foot tunnel and ride the cable car to O2 or sit on the front of the Docklands train.